Gamers play inside the Party Truck video game trailer at Anza Summer Nights June 3 at Minor Park. Russell Kitchen photo.

Diane Sieker photoanzaeditor@reedermedia.com

Russell Kitchen of The Soil Kitchen hosted Anza Summer Nights at Minor Park in Anza Saturday, June 3.

The community celebration, which ran from 5-10 p.m., featured two live bands, food, a caricature artist and an incredible gaming trailer. The amenities of Minor Park, including the horse shoe pits, playground and shady picnic tables were enjoyed by many. The free event entertained young and old alike.

The band Vintage Jukebox was first up. This classic rock inspired band consists of veteran musicians: John Parker on drums; Jim Moroco hitting the bass, Rick Brengal and August Gilliland on guitar and vocals. Cool favorites like Whipping Post by the Allman Brothers Band reverberated throughout the park, much to the delight of dancers and fans.

Meanwhile, scrumptious fry bread tacos and refreshing juices were available to refuel. A festive excitement was in the air all evening.

A gaming trailer or mobile game theater by Party Trock arrived and set up, impressing both big and little children. The self-contained system featured a large trailer equipped with four 55-inch TV screens inside and two more outside, played video games selected by the players. Inside, the comfortable seating allowed for over a dozen participants to all enjoy the fun. Laser lights played over the contestants as they concentrated on the digital goings-on. This professional and well-done entertainment center was extremely popular that evening.

Budding caricaturist Sunny Jacqueline Sutton sketched willing subjects and created some stunning and perfect likenesses in pen and ink. Her clever art went viral on social media after the event, with each person pictured being easily identified.

As darkness fell, Mark Huston and the Workin Men took to the stage. Frontman Mark Huston was backed by Rocky Carassco on lead guitar, Jerry Del playing bass and Bob Miller pounding the drums as he crooned country and rock hits. The crowd grew and the cheering and applause could be heard for miles. Dancers whirled about in front of the stage.

I want to give back to the community, I did this for the children, to give them something positive to do, Kitchen said.

Promoting Minor Park was also part of the plan and a great time was had by all. The crowds enjoyed great food, fun music and the comradery of their friends and neighbors.

The essence of community was brought back to the Park by The Soil Kitchen and his cohorts said Darlene Stone. It was fabulous, relaxing to great tunes, everyone getting along and making up for lost time. It was awesome.

Kitchen plans several more Anza Summer Nights, tentatively scheduled forAug. 5 and Sept. 2.

For more information regarding this event, please call(951) 765-7760.

To reach The Soil Kitchen, please visitwww.facebook.com/The-Soil-Kitchen-183822602131779/.

Host Russell Kitchen of The Soil Kitchen whips up the crowd at Anza Summer Nights June 3 at Minor Park. Diane Sieker photo

Children enjoy the playground at the Park during Anza Summer Nights June 3 at Minor Park. Diane Sieker photo

From left, Diana Quinlan, Robin Santillan and Bentley Hunt enjoy the performances at Anza Summer Nights June 3 at Minor Park. Diane Sieker photo

Russell and Susie Kitchen takes a moment to greet friends at Anza Summer Nights, held June 3, at Minor Park. Diane Sieker photo

Children played for what seemed like hours on games displayed by the Party Trucks 55-inch screens during Anza Summer Nights June 3 at Minor Park. Diane Sieker photo

August Gilliland (left) and Rick Brengal (right) crank out the hits at Anza Summer Nights held June 3, at Minor Park. Diane Sieker photo

Even the dogs enjoyed the excitement at the Anza Summer Nights held Saturday, June 3, at Minor Park. Diane Seiker photo

John Cannon and his dance partner kick up their heels during Anza Summer Nights, June 3, at Minor Park. Diane Sieker photo

The band, Vintage Jukebox perform classic and Southern rock and blues hits during Anza Summer Nights June 3 at Minor Park. Diane Sieker photo

Mark Huston and the Workin Men light the stage on fire at the Anza Summer Nights June 3 at Minor Park. Darlene Stone photo.

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'Anza Summer Nights' turns up the heat with music, food and more - Anza Valley Outlook

By Andrew Housser

This year, according to a AAA survey, at least 35 percent of families are planning to take a vacation 50 miles or more from home. One-third of families are planning to take three or more vacations.

Getaways are rites of passage for summer, but they can be hard on the budget. Here are seven suggestions to help make your summer breaks memorable, fun and affordable.

Take the vacation you can afford. Whatever you do, do not go into debt for your vacation. Nothing is less relaxing than coming home, going back to work and facing a pile of bills you cannot pay. Do not be tempted to rack up points on credit cards for a promise of future rewards, unless you are 100 percent positive you can pay off the bill in full and on time. The only trip you should take is one you can fund in advance.

Involve the whole family. Let everyone join in planning and budgeting. Kids will learn the value of a vacation. You also will avoid unpleasant surprises, such as making reservations for a tour no one really wants to take. Brainstorm resources that you can use to pay for your vacation, too. You might include rebates, birthday money, bonuses, garage sale proceeds, money from cashing in change, or profits from eBay or Craigslist sales. Set expectations ahead of time when it comes to how many meals you will eat out and how much you will spend on souvenirs.

Vacation at home. A staycation eliminates lodging costs and the hassles of travel. Visit tourist sites in your hometown that you have never seen, eat at a restaurant you always wanted to visit, or order in. Try something completely new, from stand-up paddle boarding to a ghost tour. To see your area like a traveler, contact your state tourist bureau for information. Visit some of the places you or your friends would typically take out-of-towners.

Sleep under the stars. June is Camping Month, which makes it the perfect time to think about roughing it. In many areas, you can take advantage of online services such as RVshare.com or Craigslist, to find an affordable RV rental. If towing a trailer intimidates you, some owners will deliver right to your campsite. Alternatively, buy or borrow inexpensive camping gear. Hiking, cookouts and swimming at a new beach will make a vacation to remember.

Be flexible with dates. If you are shopping for airline tickets, check the flexible dates option, and remember that it is usually less expensive to travel on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. July is often a particularly expensive month to fly to popular destinations, so consider going later. A beach getaway might be much less expensive and just as much fun in August, for instance. Consider off-season and shoulder-season in popular locales, too. In summer, many ski resorts seek to fill up their empty rooms at bargain rates, with live music, outdoor barbecues, hiking and alpine slides. Save with a home away from home. You will likely save on lodging and meals by renting an apartment or condominium, or even house-swapping. Even if staying in a hotel, request a room with a microwave and refrigerator. Preparing most of your own meals and snacks, and eating out just once a day, can save substantially.

Consider a city. City vacations have a reputation of being expensive, but that does not always hold true. By visiting a larger city, you may be able to avoid a car rental or taxi service. Instead, do your sightseeing on foot. Take public transit and find free (or low-cost) entertainment, from music or theater in the park to free days at museums. Lodging costs often plummet on weekends in cities populated by business travelers during the week.

Wherever this years vacation plans may take you, the important thing is to take a break in a way that you value without creating additional stress by going into debt.

Continued here:

This year, make your summer vacation debt-free - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI News, Weather and Sports | - WXOW.com

A virtual reality therapy that involves watching calming 3D videos can significantly reduce pain for hospitalised patients, according to a study. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in the US examined 100 hospitalised patients who reported pain scores of greater than three on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale from zero to 10.

Fifty patients received virtual reality (VR) therapy consisting of wearing VR goggles to watch calming video content such as helicopter rides over scenic portions of Iceland, or imagery of swimming in the ocean with whales. Those patients reported a 24 per cent drop in pain scores after using the virtual reality goggles.

Another 50 patients viewed a standard, two-dimensional nature video, depicting relaxing scenes with a calming music audio track, on a close-proximity screen. Although those patients also experienced a reduction in pain, the decrease of 13.2 per cent was less dramatic.

Results indicate virtual reality may be an effective tool along with traditional pain management protocols, said Brennan Spiegel, director of Cedars-Sinais Health Service Research. This gives doctors and patients more options than medication alone, he said.

While it remains unknown exactly how VR works to reduce pain, Spiegel attributes the benefit to what he calls immersive distraction. When the mind is deeply engaged in an immersive experience, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to perceive other stimuli, including pain.

The study showed participants calming videos including helicopter rides over Iceland, or imagery of swimming in the ocean with whales. (REUTERS)

We believe virtual reality hijacks the senses, but in a good way, Spiegel said, adding, It creates an immersive distraction that stops the mind from processing pain, offering a drug-free supplement to traditional pain management, he said.

Since the VR intervention was only 15 minutes long and included only one visualisation, it is possible that pain could rebound after completion of the therapy session, Spiegel said adding that longer-term pain reduction might require sustained and repeated exposure to varied virtual reality content.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more

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VR therapy may help reduce pain in hospitalised patients, says study - Hindustan Times

What is organic food?

Food that is labeled "organic" has been grown or raised without synthetic chemical fertilizers, pest killers (pesticides), weed killers (herbicides), hormones, or drugs. Synthetic means that they are made in a lab.

This means that farmers and ranchers who grow organic food:

Some countries, including the United States, have rules that govern when a farmer or rancher may use the organic label. Before a grower can use that label, a government inspector goes to the farm to make sure that the rules are being followed.

Don't assume that food labeled "natural," "sustainable," "hormone-free," or "free-range" is organic. Look for the USDA organic seal .

You may have these questions about organic food:

Food grown with pesticides can have small amounts of pesticide left on the food when it gets to the store.

If you are concerned about pesticides on your food, here are some steps you can take:2

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

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Organic and Chemical-Free Foods-Overview - WebMD

Online retailer Amazon unveiled plans to buy Whole Foods Market in its biggest food and supermarket acquisition to date.

On Friday, the multi-billion pound chain confirmed the buy-out of Whole Foods for a mammoth $13.7 billion - or 10.7 billion.

The Seattle-based retailer, which sells just about everything from pet food, to fashion, jewellery, electronics and TV shows, said it had long been considering the takeover in its bid to push into the grocery market, with discussions as recent as last autumn.

Amazon will buy the organic food chain for 42 US dollars per share - 32.80 - but will continue to operate stores under the Whole Foods brand.

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Whole Foods currently has 460 stores across the US, Canada and the UK, with nine of them in Britain, namely dotted around the capital.

The grocery store - which specialises in healthy, vegan and eco-products - will continue operating under the Whole Foods name, the company's headquarters will remain in Austin.

Co-founder John Mackey will stay on as Whole Foods CEO.

In a statement, Mackey said: This partnership presents an opportunity to maximise value for Whole Foods Markets shareholders, while at the same time extending our mission and bringing the highest quality, experience, convenience and innovation to our customers."

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said: "Millions of people love Whole Foods Market because they offer the best natural and organic foods, and they make it fun to eat healthy."

Maria Prados, VP at online payments platform, Worldpay, added: "Amazons move to buy Whole Foods is a clear sign of its intention to disrupt the grocery industry globally.

"From the "Dash" buy button, to the launch of the AmazonFresh service last year, the eCommerce giant has been taking clear steps to build its position in the grocery sector. And investing in a physical presence could be the key to Amazons success in this space.

With one in ten Brits now doing all their grocery shopping online*, it is now easier than ever to buy household necessities from the comfort of our sofa.

"We have reached a tipping point in the evolution of the UK grocery market, and it will be interesting to see whether Amazon will continue to focus on their culture of convenience and reliability, or whether they will end up creating a whole new online shopping experience, taking the chore out of the weekly shop."

Amazon's latest shock announcement comes just days after the firm teased of plans to emerge in the cars market - with reports claiming sales will be piloted on its UK website, before being rolling out to other countries, if successfull.

According to claims leaked on German website, Automobilwoche, the new service will be based in Luxembourg but will start its operations in the UK first.

Amazon recently recruited Christoph Moeller, a motor industry expert at consultancy Oliver Wyman, to spearhead the new project, although it's yet to confirm any official plans.

It's not the first time Amazon has dipped into the automobiles industry. In Italy last year it partnered with Fiat Chrysler to sell the Fiat 500 and the Panda on its Italian website.

According to Auto Express, Amazon cars could allow customers to order their motors online and have it delivered to a nearby dealer.

Continued here:

Amazon confirms plans to buy organic food chain Whole Foods in mammoth $13.7 billion takeover - Mirror.co.uk

To say the June 16 announcement that Amazon announced that it will be acquiring Whole Foods, the iconic purveyor of organic wares and interesting beverages, to the tune of $13.7 billion sent shock waves through the retail sector would be an understatement. Whole Foods has been struggling as of late: Amid competition from companies like Target and WalMart, both of which have been ramping up their sales of organic and natural products, Whole Foods has posted seven consecutive quarters of tumbling sales and in May, swapped out five of its dozen board members (one of whom, full disclosure, is Fast Company owner Joe Mansueto) in an effort to inject new energy into the company. By selling to Amazon, theyre throwing a Hail Mary.

But as substantial as the deal is, its perhaps not all that surprising, once the aftershocks fade. I was surprised, but not too surprised, Joe Dobrow, who was head of marketing at Whole Foods until 2000, and subsequently wrote the book Natural Prophets: From Health Foods to Whole FoodsHow the Pioneers of the Industry Changed the Way We Eat and Reshaped American Business, tells Fast Company. Rumors of a Whole Foods sale had been circulating for a while, Dobrow says; competitors like Albertsons, Kroger, and Publix had all expressed interest.

While selling out to a larger grocery retailer with a bigger reach might have given Whole Foods the financial boost it needed, that would have entailed sticking with the status quo. If youre looking at the talent pipeline at Whole FoodsfollowingCEO John Mackeytheyre all grocery guys over there, Dobrow says. What Whole Foods needs is innovation, and if youre looking for where that brilliant visionary leadership is going to come from, its not going to be from within Whole Foods. But Amazon could be a huge booster shot of innovative leadership, and set Whole Foods on a path to adapt to the 21st century, which has been lacking.

The entire $800 billion grocery industry as a whole, Dobrow says, is facing some uncertainty. Caught in the middle of a will-they-or-wont-they dance with online retailfueled in part by Amazon, whose AmazonFresh grocery delivery service debuted in 2013the financial performances of brick-and-mortar groceries like Kroger, which have long been predictably strong, are faltering. While online grocery sales account for only 4.3% of the market currently, a report from Nielsen this year predicted that theyll reach as much as 20% of the market share by 2025. That gives you a sense of how much of a ramp there is, Dobrow says.

And in buying up Whole Foods, Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, seems to have identified another sector of the grocery industry with a huge growth potential: natural and organic food. Despite the enormous growth of Whole Foods since it was founded in 1978, and despite the piqued interest of larger retailers in selling higher quality products, natural and organic foods still represent only around 5% of all food sales in the United States.

Before this deal, you heard people in the industry saying that if we could get organic sales up to 10% of the market share, that would be a huge chunk of business, and represent a huge societal change, Dobrow says. So Im sure Bezos took a look and realized it was a no-brainer for Amazon to play a role in expanding the percent of the market taken up by natural and organic food.

And the way theyll be doing so appears will likely be through ramping up Whole Foods e-commerce component. For those Whole Foods devotees concerned that the Amazon acquisition will tarnish the stores signature community-centric and friendly ethos, theres little cause for immediate concern: Amazon has said that proceedings at Whole Foods 456 outposts, as well as its handful overseas and in Canada, will remain largely unchanged. Amazon, at least initially, says it has notimplemented the technology it developed to facilitate Amazon Go, its Seattle-based cashless convenience store, nor are there any planned payoffs. Of course, that could all change in the future, but the company has let subsidiary Zappos largely chart its own, often idiosyncratic course. (On the other hand, there is certainly the possibility that Amazon, always ruthless, thought this was just the cheapest way to get a lot of urban real estate for warehouses.)

What might change: According to Dobrow, it would not be surprising to see Whole Foods launch some loyalty programs, and integrate Amazon purchase algorithms into their retail experience. Previously, Dobrow says, such initiatives have not fit into the Whole Foods ethos, but now that the company is owned by Amazon, theyre going to accept the notion that Whole Foods should be analyzing their data and giving them suggestions and recommendations, and auto-refilling their cupboards based on past purchase history, or installing mini-kiosks in malls or airports.

If Jeff Bezos is putting Amazon backing behind a retailer that, despite its cult following, still has only a small share of the market cornered, he is hopefully making the statement that Whole Foodsand the kinds of products it sells and supportsis the direction were all heading in.

Eillie Anzilotti is an assistant editor for Fast Company's Ideas section, covering sustainability, social good, and alternative economies. Previously, she wrote for CityLab.

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Could The Amazon-Whole Foods Union Be What Takes Organic Sales To The Next Level? - Fast Company

In recent years, the benefits of meditation have been acknowledged not only by spiritual leaders, but also by scientists and researchers alike.

The Dalai Lama says meditation can change your life. Celebrities from Oprah Winfrey to pro athletes praise the positive effects of meditating.

But meditation is no newcomer: It's been in existence for more than 2,500 years as a way to connect with your inner self and the world around you.

A study done last year by UCLA found long-term practitioners of meditation displayed better-preserved brains as they aged than did people who did not meditate.

Given the busy lives Americans lead, the appeal of meditation (which stems from the Latin verb "meditari," which means "to think, contemplate, devise, ponder") can be obvious. But with dozens of meditation styles to choose from, someone looking to begin the practice faces plenty of options.

The good news is that the offerings for meditation are rich in both Corvallis and Albany. In Corvallis alone, there are five different mediation resources in addition to The Mind Spa, which is offered by Oregon State University, but is limited just to faculty, students and staff.

Jared Martinsen teaches meditation at his house in Corvallis every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Martinsen also runs the Facebook group Corvallis Meditation.

His experience with meditation began 18 years ago in Corvallis, when he attended a guided meditation. It was an unforgettable experience.

The first time I went there I had an experience where I saw a white haze in the room at the end of the meditation," he said. "I thought, 'What is this?' I thought I had something in my eye but it didn't go away when I rubbed them. I was agnostic and didn't really want to believe in anything strange but I felt so loving and peaceful that I had to come back and try some more. Over the years, meditation completely changed my life from being extremely shy and having a hard time relating to people to having more friends and dating.

If you are new to meditating, Martinsen suggests meditating with a group of people or a class:

You might need to find people that you connect with, so try a couple of groups," he said. "Have a daily practice, even if it's just five minutes a day at a set time. Just a habit, like brushing your teeth. Meditation is not about not having thoughts. It's about being aware of yourself having thoughts. Meditation is about becoming more aware and training the mind. Focus the mind on something more interesting than thoughts.

Meditation doesn't need to be a solitary practice.

Five Stones Sangha began in Corvallis more than 10 years ago with a handful of people coming together to support each other. The Sangha practices the teachings of Zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk, a poet, and peace activist.

Ken Oefelein runs the Five Stones Sangha. We have developed into a group of about 25 regular members who meet once a week," he said. "We have become good spiritual friends, trusting each other; we learn from each other. About 3,000 years ago, a very wise person said that such friendships are the essence of this practice. We provide a refuge for anyone to feel safe and secure, and enjoy the present moment.

In Albany, Love Yoga Studios holds a meditation class which encourages beginners and seasoned practitioners alike to engage in introductory tips and techniques and a little neuroscience to get started and then 20 minutes of blissfully golden silence.

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Meditation for beginners: Mid-valley offers plenty of places to start ... - Albany Democrat Herald

BARBOURSVILE - Celebrating its one-year anniversary in May, The PeaceTree Center for Wellness has aimed to help folks heal by creating a wide range of mind, spirit and body connections.

This week, PeaceTree owner Katrina Jefferson and the teachers at the Center, located 5930 Mahood Dr., Huntington, will celebrate PeaceTree in the Park, a community wellness week at Barboursville Park with some additional events at the center.

PeaceTree in the Park runs Monday through Saturday, June 19-24, with a wide range of yoga classes, behavioral health

screenings, art, music, massage, mediation, mindfulness, and belly and ballroom dancing.

Activities will be offered two different times, in the morning/early afternoon (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and evening (4 to 7 to 8 p.m.)

"PeaceTree in the Park is a community wellness week in Barboursville Park, and the the point of it is to provide a little snapshot of all the things that we do at PeaceTree but to also improve the wellness of the community - that is the whole point," Jefferson said. "We are inviting individuals, children and families to have fun, enjoy being active and connect with wellness. It is our hope to make this an annual event in addition to offering pop-up activities monthly."

A licensed therapist with a private practice that specializes in trauma in children and families, Jefferson said PeaceTree has been been adding services as well as classes and workshops in everything from yoga and massage therapy to nutritional support groups, mindfulness, and belly and ballroom dancing.

"We do all kinds of alternative types of activities to help provide healing and connection for individuals for themselves and for their families and to connect with others in the community," Jefferson said. "To see people actually partake in the services and start the healing is one of the most exciting things I have seen in my life. What I have realized is that we have a lot of stressed parents and a lot of stressed kids; everybody is going everywhere, and our culture is so high expectation and high performance that this is a place of sanctuary. That is what I am hoping for them to find when they come to the park and want to partake in the services."

Jefferson said she hopes there will be a lot of children who can come to the events.

"It is our goal to promote health and wellness for all individuals and target the importance of childhood development and self care for all," Jefferson said. "Children are our future, (and they) learn from what they see. If the community supports their parents, they see a community that cares and is available to support their development, health and wellness. Promoting wellness in our community is a choice that impacts the present and future of the children, families and individuals who are the community."

Jefferson said she is looking for sponsors to cover supplies for activities, support for the instructors, food and water for those providing services and activities, and marketing. Folks wanting to help or who want more information, can call 304-955-5111; or email peacetree2healandhope@gmail.com or TLC4change@gmail.com.

Here's a look at the schedule for PeaceTree in the Park. Activities are at Barboursville Park unless otherwise noted.

n 3 to 7 p.m.: Behavioral health screenings for adults and children

n 3 to 4:30 p.m.: Inside Out Kids Group

n 3 to 4:30 p.m.: Inside Out Faces (face painting)

n 3 to 4:30 p.m.: Parent support group

n 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Kids yoga

n 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Family activity

PeaceTree Center Location (5930 Mahood Dr., Huntington)

n 5 to 6:30 p.m.: Healing in Huntington

n 5:45 to 6:15 p.m.: Kids drumming

n 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.: Adult drumming

n 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Behavioral health screenings for adults and children

n 10 a.m. to noon: Maternal mental health activities

n 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Activity tables, including solution squeeze balls, calm down balloons, 3D hand prints and power sticks

n 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Tic tac toe emoji fun

n 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Massage demos

n 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Face painting

PeaceTree Center Location (5930 Mahood Dr., Huntington)

n 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Ballroom dancing

n 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Ballroom dancing

Wednesday, June 21: International Day of Yoga

n 9 to 10 a.m.: Family yoga with Victoria

n 10 a.m. to noon: Activity tables

n 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Behavioral health screenings for adults and children

n 10 a.m. to noon: Massage demos

n 10 to 11 a.m.: Hatha yoga with Gloria

n 11 a.m. to noon: Meditation with Cindy D.

n 5 to 8 p.m.: Coloring mandalas for kids

n 4 to 5 p.m.: Sloth yoga with Jennifer M.

n 5 to 6 p.m.: Yoga with Bobbi

n 6 to 7 p.m.: iRest with Dawn Brock

n 3 to 7 p.m.: Behavioral health screenings for adults and children

n 3 to 7 p.m.: Good Vibe Tribe Teen Group - What's your handprint on the world? (3D Hands), Tic tac toe emoji fun

n 4 to 7 p.m.: Face painting

n 4 to 7 p.m.: Picture booth

n 3 to 4 p.m.: Make your own masks

n 4 to 5 p.m.: Make your own mandala

n 5 to 7 p.m.: Community rock painting

n 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Intro to mindful based stress reduction

n 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Behavioral health screenings for adults and children

n 10 to 11 a.m.: Barboursville Library: Story, music parachute.

n 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Face painting, Inside Out Faces and coloring mandalas for kids

n 10 a.m. to noon: Art with Linda (Painting with parents; sunflowers on old barn wood)

n 5 to 6 p.m.: Belly dancing with Ariane

n 6 to 7 p.m.: Community drumming with Sheila M.

n 6 to 8 p.m.: Painting in the park with Kelly

n 10 to 11 a.m.: Community yoga for cancer awareness

n 11 a.m. to noon: Meditation with PeaceTree Meditation Group

n 2 to 4 p.m.: Behavioral health screenings; mental health first aid Zyto Scans with Michelle C.; essential oils with Michelle C., Fire Truck Tour with Jamie D.; community rock painting, face painting and picture booth PeaceTree Song Circle - Music

n 6 to 8 p.m. Chris Sutton (http://chrissuttonblues.com/). A locally based, internationally known blues artist who has toured around the U.S., Europe, India and Nepal.

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PeaceTree Center offering yoga, meditation more as part of community celebration - Huntington Herald Dispatch

GEORGE TOWN: The cost of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) has not escalated, according to Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow (pix).

He said the amount of RM27 billion and RM46 billion bandied about referenced two different documents.

Chow said the smaller sum was for the tender estimation based on the initial conceptual studies drawn up by transport consultant Halcrow in 2011.

He said the larger figure was for the plan by SRS Consortium, the PTMP project delivery partner (PDP), which included railway and highway networks.

Chow said those submitting their proposals under the request for proposal (RFP) excercise did not have to follow the Halcrow recommendations 100% and were free to submit their own proposals.

"This is what SRS did, they have their own variations, which if implemented totally, will be more than Halcrow.

"These cost remain the same so far and there is no escalation," he said in a press conference today.

On the progress of implementing the PTMP, Chow said the state has approved RM17 billion worth of projects so far.

He said these were the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT), the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) and three highways awarded to Consortium Zenith Sdn Bhd.

For the LRT, Chow said the railway scheme has been submitted to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) on March 28, 2016, for approval while the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was submitted to the Department of Environment (DOE) on March 31, 2017.

For the PIL1, the EIA is expected to be submitted to the DOE by end July 2017 while the public display for the three highways are on display until July 19.

Read the original here:

Cost of Penang's transport master plan has not surged: Chow - The Sun Daily

Posted June 19, 2017 13:00:09

Bobbing bodies of various ages and shapes took to the waters of Townsville's Kokoda pool yesterday to try to sink the world record for the largest aqua aerobics class.

The north Queensland city's Guinness World record attempt attracted 159 participants, which was not sufficient to pip the record of 250 (held by Mexico) but it did beat the previous Australian record.

"So we are now the national record holders, so we are the best in Australia by about 70 so that was good," said attempt organiser Christie Love.

"So they tried it down south and they didn't get more than 90 and that was an indoor pool, so I am definitely happy with 159."

Participant Sandra Davey said the workout was not too strenuous and the class was a terrific opportunity to develop a sense of community.

"I think events like this is how you build and grow a community," Ms Davey said.

"The number of conversations that were going on, it was almost like new friends were being made as well as participating in an event that is good for us."

Northern Queensland boasts several Guinness World Records: Innisfail holds the record for the longest banana split, Townsville for the most people wearing sock puppets.

Aqua aerobics is a popular sport in Townsville. Ms Love said the Kokoda pool alone holds 12 classes a week, which each attract more than 40 participants.

Despite an ambient temperature of 28 degrees and a water temperature of 33 degrees, Ms Love thought Townsville's winter weather may have kept some participants away.

"Maybe because we had it in winter we just didn't get the numbers so maybe we will try it again in September when it will be a bit warmer," Ms Love said.

"But at the end of the day it is a community thing and we are still the highest now in Australia."

Topics: offbeat, sport, swimming, community-and-society, townsville-4810, innisfail-4860

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Townsville plunges into Australian record books with mega aqua aerobics class - ABC Online